Catamenial receptacle



April 2, 1935. A. F. HAGEDORN 1,996,242

CATAMENIAL RECEPTAGLE Filed March 11, 1933 INVENTOR v 4 ,4 M,

ATTORNEY-Z Patented Apr. 2, 1935 I UNITED STATES CATAMENIAL RECEPTACLE Arthur F. Hagedorn, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Kate Woodhurn, In-

diana, Pa.

I Application March 11, 1933, Serial No. 660,368

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and improved catamenial receptacle adapted to be inserted. in the vagina of a human female for the purpose of receiving and entrapping the menstrual discharge.

An important object of the present-invention is a receptacle for this purpose having an outside configuration such that it may be supported in place ,within the vagina by resting on the inner wall surface of the muscles or tissue defining the vaginal entrance passage.

Another object is to provide for this purpose a receptacle of soft, impervious, imperforate, resilient material which may be folded by pressure of the human fingers and inserted in the vagina in the distorted or folded condition.

Another object is to partially equalize and relieve the reduced air pressure in the vagina which ordinarily would be created by the unfolding of the receptacle and its return toward a normal unfolded condition, and at the same time, to maintain the receptacle snugly in place while the degrees of air pressure within the vagina and outside are substantially equalized.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification wherein reference is made to the drawing embodying a preferred form and several modifications of the present invention;

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a female body showing the device in use.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device, part thereof being shown in section for clearness in illustration.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and having an improved air venting arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a receptacle showing still anothenventing means.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the venting means shown in Fig. 4. m

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the device illustrating a third modification of venting means.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the device comprises a receptacle having a body portion I which is preferably cylindrical in form. The body portion is surmounted by a suitable peripheral flange 2 extending outwardly upwardly therefrom at about 45. The receptacle is open at 'the end adjacent the flange and is closed at the lower or opposite end. The lower end portion 3 likewise is preferably cylindrical and is of smaller diameter than the body portion I, the lower end wall being rounded, as indicated at 4, to form a closed substantially spherical end. The portion 3 is preferably of such length as to extend the full length of the vaginal entrance passage. Near its upper limit the lower end portion 3 merges with the adjacent end of the cylindrical body portion! moving the receptacle.

As more fully set forth in the patent to Lester J. Goddard, No. 1,891,161, issued December 20, 1932, devices of this character have been made in whole or in part of hard unyielding material or material which tended to resist distortion or folding to a high degree. Likewise, in many prior devices the contour of the wall surfaces exposed to the vaginal walls has been irregular and the entire receptacle has not been sufiiciently yieldable to engage the vaginal walls without exerting undue pressure thereon. Pressure between such receptacles andthe vaginal walls was relied on to hold the receptacle in place. In order to eliminate sharp shoulders, edges or undue bulges tending to cause undue concentration of pressure on the vaginal walls for retaining the receptacle in operating position, the present device is made smooth and rounded in contour and of rubber of such resiliency that it maybe folded or distorted at all points along its full length by the human fingers, and, that, when the pressure is relieved, it will tend to resume its normal shape. The present receptacle is notdependent upon any intense sub-atmosphericpressure in the vagina resulting from the return of the receptacle toward its original shape for maintaining the same in place, but, as stated, utilizes instead the shoul-. der 6 above described and a much less intense sub-atmospheric pressure.

The entire receptacle may be made integral and of rubber of the same resiliency and substantially the same wall thickness throughout. Since the lower end wall 4 is spherical, it will yield more readily than were it fiat as the latter would have to be buckled or compressed to allow partial folding of the adjacent side walls. The receptacle is inserted within the vagina with the flange end upwardly and in folded condition, the length of the body portion and the flange 2 preferably being such that the upper end of the receptacle will be in spaced relation to the cervix when the shoulder 6 rests on the interior wall surface of the muscles defining the vaginal entrance passage. Upon relieving the pressure of the fingers the re-' ceptacle tendsto return to its normal unfolded condition and, as described in the above identified patent, this action tends to create a very pronounced reduced air pressure or'suction within the vagina.

It has been found by experience that some dimoutside.

culty is encountered in providing a receptacle having sufficient resiliency and strength to return sufliciently toward normal unfolded position within the vagina against the pressure of the vaginal walls and against the resistance of the pronounced partial vacuum created within the vagina and at the same time of suficient softness and yieldability as to occasion no undue pressure on the vaginal walls.

In order to overcome these difiiculties and to provide a receptacle sufiiciently soft and yieldable to retain its position and to function properly without irritation it is desirable to relieve'to a great extent and partially equalize the reduced atmospheric pressure within the vagina by providing a number of air vents in the receptacle walls. Referring to the form of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, vents ID are provided substantially at the juncture of the flange 2 and the body portion l, in which position the vaginal walls, indicated at 11, may be'maintained in slightly spaced relation to the outer openings of the vents by the overhanging flange 2.

1"he vents I 0 are preferably extremely small, in fact, small enough so that surface tension 'or capillary attraction of the discharge will prevent the contents of the receptacle from discharging therethrough, and yet'of suificient size so that they will readily permit entrance of air as the receptacle tends to open within the vagina.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 2, three such vents, evenly spaced about the periphery of the receptacle, are provided, these vents being about 1/64 to of an inch in diameter. Vents of this size are sufliciently small so that even water will not flow out therefrom with the slight pressure head afforded even when the receptacle is filled and fully exposed to equal pressure within and It has been found that the receptacle may become full or even overflowing within the vagina and yet none of the discharge will escape around the flange or pass out of the vents l 0.

In Fig. 3 similar-vents are shown, as indicated at I2, these vents sloping downwardly inwardly of the receptacle. In this form of receptacle, a small annular flap l4, preferably comprised of soft latex, may be provided interiorly of the receptacle in overhanging relation to the inner openings of the vents l2 and adapted to lie in juxtaposition with the receptacle walls and over the openings so as to permit air to enter into the receptacle readily and to seal the openings against outward flow.

In addition, channels l5 may be provided in the external wall for insuring admission of outside air to the vents I 2, so that, during removal of the receptacle from the vagina, undue suction is eliminated and it is not necessary to crease or deform the receptacle walls for admitting air.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 another valve means is illustrated and comprises a hollow tube l6 which may be of rubber or other suitable material and which may be formed integral with the receptacle. This tube may be in the form of a continuation of the nib l1 and may extend to the upper edge of the receptacle. The upper end of the tube, during vulcanization, is pinched together as indicated at I 8 any suitable talc or other substance being provided to prevent the juxtaposed walls at I 8 from. welding or sticking together. When'so vulcanized, the tube will retain the shape illustrated and will permit air to pass thereinto and to the juxtaposed walls at 18, these latter being spread apart by the air due to the reduced air pressure within the vagina to permit the air to enter, and returning to their original position when the reduced pressure is somewhat equalized or relieved. In this manner, the walls I8 will return into contact with each other and prevent leakage of the contents of the receptacle. The tube l6 may be. in the general proportion illustrated in the Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 6, a modified vent and valve arrangement is illustrated wherein a small duct 20 is provided in the nib 2| at the lower end portion 30. of the receptacle, this duct extending axially of the nib into the interior of the receptacle and discharging thereinto at the bottom. A small valve flap 22 is provided within the receptacle in overhanging relation to the duct 2|) so as to permit air to enter thereinto but to seal upon reversal of the flow. The flap 22 also is preferably of latex, so that it may be held in sealing position readily by any discharge in the receptacle.

By providing such venting means, the reduced pressure within the vagina can be overcome to the desired degree. A predetermined reduced pressure can be retained, if desired, by varying slightly the size of the vents or rigidity of the valves. will become sealed more quickly by capillary attraction or surface tension of the discharge or byengagement of the receptacle walls with the walls of the vagina.

In removing the receptacle, the partial vacuum normally created is also relieved by entrance of air through the vents.

While I have described the device as made of rubber, it may be made of other materials having like characteristics for performing the functions herein required and in specifying rubber it is meant to include also any such yieldable, impervious, imperforate resilient material.

Since the vents are useful to equalize the internal and external pressures, they will produce effective results even in-hard rigid receptacles by relieving the pressure upon insertion and withdrawal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A catamenial device comprising a soft rubber receptacle open at one end and of sufiicient resiliency to be folded longitudinally by pressure of the human fingers and to return to its normal unfolded condition consequent upon release of said folding pressure whereby it may be inserted axially in folded condition with the open end innermost into the vagina and upon release of said folding pressure will return toward its normal condition to effect sealing engagement with the vaginal walls and will tend to create a subatmospheric pressure within the vagina, said receptacle having a pronounced shoulder adapted to lie on the interiorly exposed walls of the muscles defining the vaginal entrance passage for supporting said receptacle within the vagina, a soft resilient peripheral external flange about the open end of the receptacle extending outwardly therefrom, means including a plurality of air ducts extending through the side wall of the receptacle and opening exteriorly of the receptacle substantially at the juncture of the flange and receptacle for admitting air into the receptacle upon unfolding thereof and said ducts being suificiently small to be sealed against the outflow of the discharge by surface tension of the discharge.

ARTHUR F. HAGEDORN.

By varying the size of the vents, they 

